Project Brings Military Families Together

8000 children from military families are getting involved in a new reading project to make sure they all have something in common despite leading really different lives.

The idea of Reading Force is that the whole family - including the parent serving abroad - reads the same book so they can chat about it.

It was the brainchild of Alison Baverstock, a soldier's wife from Aldershot. Following a trial in the town last year, the scheme is now being rolled out to 200 schools and 8000 children across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire.

With funding provided by the Ministry of Defence, books are being sent out in bulk to the schools.

Alison, who is a mum of four, told Heart:

"When you're married to a soldier, one issue is that you're leading very different lives. You're trying to keep everything going at home, and your lives are progressing in different directions."

"It doesn't matter if you live in different places or if a family member is overseas, as Reading Force is a great way to keep in touch with family and loved ones."